Draft-gear.



w. F. RICHARDS,

DRAFT GEAR.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

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sTATEsP-ATNT omen niirnw, mm Yoan, nsszenon 1ro oourn doom-.oon- PLNY,.0F NEW YORK, N. e.

nun-em 1,236,872. l commutateur-mf, Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

appunti@ nieu umn so, isis. serials. imei,

.ffl'a all 'whom t may concern: ,v f Be it known thatI, Winnen-F. Raonnnns, .a citizen of the-United States', residing at Depew in the county of Erie and State of New York, havejinvented a new and useful improvement in Draft-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates 'to friction draft gears for railway cars of the 'kind' which act both inl draw-ing and iii builing.

Great difficulties have been experienced in vthe production `of draft gears having the h'i h capacityrequired forcniodern railway rolingfstoekl for the reason that while the capacity required ofdraft gears has greatly increased withinl recent years, vowing 'tothe increase in'the size and carrying capacit of cars a d locomotives l'and the correspon ing increa in the size of trains, the spaceon each car `:'ive'iilable foijfthe Vdraft gearsand the length of travel of the coup er in' its draft and b'iiiiing" action has not been altered by the :specifications of the .Mastei-Car Builders,'fiAsso'ciation.` Consequently it is necessaryto produce a -draft gear of very greatly increased capacit whichcan be conned -withinl a space o' the size formerly allotted toi `gears of much less capacity,

while thepermissible travel of the movable part of the gear also remains the same. as formerly. 1

The objects of the invention are to ro? -duce' a draft gear of the size and trave re- .gqiiired by the fMaster Car' Builders Assoa Iiby iherailroads for the heavy modern T011' ciation and which has the capacity required iing stock; also to improve the construction pff parts of the draftgear in such a 'manner geiirsof this kind in the respects hereinafter specified. f l

ias to enable them to withstand the lstresses actingy thereon; also to so construct vthe parts ofthe draft car that the areaV of contact ,of the co erating friction faces will be substantiaiijy theV same inI all positions of the parts of thc draftgea al-so toso construct Vthe draftgrnr that the' parts thereof will be hold in the proper. operative relation with regard to each other without the necessity :For securing means when the draft gear isi not in, position on the car, to facilitate the handling and shipping of the draft gear; also to improve the construction of draft In thc ameoinpanyiiig drawings: i Figure l'is a sectional-'plan view of..a

, v igs. 8 and 4 are transverse sectional ele--y vations on lines 3--8 and 4-,4, Fi

tween the drafty sills. l

1. Fig. 5 -is a perspective view ofthe rear,

end of the housing of the 'draft gear.

Fig. 6 is a pers ective -view of one of the wedge lates of t e draft gear.

Figli is a sectional plan view of a draft gearof modified construction.

Brieiii stated, the draft gear comprises a. hollow s ell or housing whichis open'at one en and in which the resistance means of the draft gear areeonned. The housing is rovided nearits open end with linclined riction faces Vwhich oo rate 'with correspending faces on movab e wedge plates in such a manner thatwhen the wedge' plates are moved into thehousing in the action of the gear, leaf springs interposed between the dwedge plates will press the wedge plates forcibly against the friction faces of the housing, thereby creating friction to resist theV movement of the-wedge plates. A

sol

spring, which is located. in the housing and acts in a direction lengthwise thereof, serves toreturn the "wedge plates to their initial position after the gear hasbeen acted upon either by drawing or butling strains.. i

' Referring first tol the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, A represents cheek plates or parts of any usual or suitable construction which are secured to the draft Vsills of the car and which are provided with in` Wardly extending stops or shoulders a, he-

tween which the draft gear is held. B rep resents the shell or housing foi' the draft gear which, inthe construction shown, is substantially rectangular in lcross section and is o en at one end, for instance its rear end, an closed at itsopposite end. f The housing is provided adjacentto its open end with opposed inwardly converging, inclined friction faces b which are adapted to cop'- erate with corresponding inclined faces en ioo wedge plates` C"slida bly arranged in the I open end ofthe housing and extending rearwardly beyond the rear ends of the friction faces b. The friction faces on-the wedge `platosand on Vthe housing are so:arra'n' ed Y. relatively to ea 'li other that the iwe( ge plates will move toward each other when 'they are driven into the housing bythe ac- `thus i'etliiee the. wear-ol' these parts.

tion of the'ilraft gear. The. movement of the.. wedge plates toward nach" other is opposed b v leal' springs l), eonsisting of a phiriility of enri'eil plates preterably arranged in two groups with the eonvexeil sides of the groups `faeing eachy otheranil t'he'lei'nls ol' the groups bearing against the wedge plates C.

l`lie inelin-eil t'aees of the vl'i'ietion plates extend substantiallif tothe rear enfls ol the plates, so that when the 'plates.4i-re 'nioveil into the housing, the rear portions of the 'lriirtion faces of theA plates which'are noi'- mall outsitle ol the housing more into. en-

gageinent'.' with the vfrietion vlaees ol' the.A

`ihiringlhe normal position ot' the parts ot' the gear. the plates ran be arranged farther apart so that more space is ai'ailable between the plates for insertion ol the lea l' springs, wherein4 the lrapacitlil of the gear eaii be inert-aseo. 'l`lie .frietion faces of the weilge plates ainl. the lhousing are. niaile relaiiveti' long so that the. pressure o t' the springs will be rlistriliiiteil over an ex'leialeil area ainl By arranging the leaf springs as shown in the ilrawingsl so that tlie'ouhter eilges vthereofE bea r against the friction plates.' the. teinlencli" ot' the,.plal'es to rock on the enter edge ol the frieton, faire ot the housing .intl thus to bear onli' on a neatly i'e-llieeil area. is mferroi-ne, thus i-eiliieir'ig thewear of these parts.

'lhe weilge plates (l and the. leaf springs l) bear at tl'ieir'imier eilges against'l aifi interineiliate transverse followero,.i:, pl:.iti`i.ll which is movable in the housing.,lrngtliwi. thereol`. 'l`he inwaril movement'. ol' ll'n in the housing lis resist-.tal .by a

spring eontainetlin the. housing between. the rloseil enil thereolaiitl said .followeiziloiilile eo'il spring is shown l'or this pur pose. eiinipasinf.:l an outer spring lt ainl an inner spring F..

servo to retin-n.` the weilge platesI to their initial or releaseil "position after they hare been moved iiiwaial'ly. sinee 'the inclination y .ol the frietion 'l'aees isnot great e'nongh to eansetliein to be retnriiml to 'their initial position b v the leaf spring is impurteil to the tlraftv giar by means of the usual "volge Y(l exteinling :'irouni! the ilraft. gear iirnl eoin-ieeteilal'. its` lroiitl por.-

'lliese springs not only assistain resisting the inwaril iliiorenieiit ol' the wedge plates in the housing. lnit'alsol vend ottlie housing ll to l'orni a stop'to limit the movement of they weilge plates into the 'housing anil 'thereby'to limit the compres# sion of the springs.

Thel parts ol a draft gearare usually held in operative relation to each other by means of the yoke. when the draft gear is'installed on a ear. Tt is' (lesiii'ible.however. to e0nsti-net the ili'aft gear as to hold the part's tliereolin operative relation eren when the gear is not in plar'e on the ear. for example, when the saine is being shipped from the manulaeturer to -the eonsuiner. i'inrpose. intei-locking'` portions are provided on the wedge plates aiitl the housing to prevent the. accidental removal of the wedge plates. In the. construetion -`showiwslmulilers I are 'orinetl on the. housing which, in the construelion showia are arranged slightly beyond the inner` edges of the inelined frie tion faces thereof.l ,'.l`hese shoulders are :ula iteil to engav'e in reeesses l in the wed ei plates wliieh forni lioolieil or shouldered portions at the inner einls of the wedge plates. rlhel ieeessesl' are preferably l'orineil at the miiltlle portions of the plates near the inner entls tliereoll :intl ilo. not exteiiil eompletely af'i'os.`- tneplates` so that 'the tliielcness ol' the plates at the siil'ef portions i is not? ileereaseil. 'lhis lione. t0

ai'oiil weakening the: platesanfl to` avoidf breaking ol' the same by the press-lire exerted thereon hy thi` opposite einls o't' the leaf springs.' l

ltig. 7 shows a ilral`t gear whieh is partici larly atlapteil l'or passengerears in which.

the height or iei'tiral iliniension of the. draft gear isstill smaller than in Freight ears', for which the. gear -shown in Fig. i' is more partieiiilarly inteniletl. I n this passeiigeigear two sets o'l'. eoil springs` K. K are shown .for

firesisiiiig the. in waril niox'enwnt'. of the wedge plates. 'Fliese sets o l'v `springs are arranged one .besi'ile the other ariel a follower L iSinterposed hetween the. two setsof, releasing springs iinil the \`veilge plates. The rele'avs- :ng .springs anil the. follower are preferably niiule of sin-h `a size. 'that in order t'op'iit th' releasing springs aial 'llief follower L into the-housing or remore the saine therefrom,-

il, is iieeessaiji' to eonstruet the housing in twov parts. ln the eoiistrnet'ioi'i shownfor this pnrpose the housing comprises a front 'portion M eontaining the releasingspring, The movement of the eoiiplei in ilrawingUV anrl a frietion housing N ser'iireil on the open rear enil of the [ront portion-ol' the housin". 'I`lii :nl i'aeenl. einls of the two parts 0f `the "hnii ing are provitleil ii'ithralintting flanges,

lll() i of any desired thickness and which is in- V wardly causes, the rear follower the wedge `y serted betvi'eenm the two sets of leaf springs. `By using filler plates of various thicknesses, one or more apri leaves may be removed from each setof l caf springs so that the capacity ofthe draft gear canbe varied as In the-operation of the draft gear `in the drawing,` the movement of the oke fortomove plliates and leaf springs into the housing, w

} movement by the stops a. When the forof leaf springsfbetween ,thefffriction plates.

v is of i ward i the ing springs push the wedge plates and leaf `20 the housing of. the draft gear .moves ressure on the ollower H is relieved,

springs `back into their initial osi tion.` When thedraft gear is used in bu Y ng,

, rearwardl toward the follower Hwith the result the -wedge plates and leaf springs agaiiiffenterthehousing, and the actionof the other parte of the gear are `the same as in drawing Draftgearsof the constructions described can be made according to the dimensions required by the Master Car Builders speciii cations and at the same timehave the high capacityrequired bythe railroads. The use great importance in connection with i the draft gear described, owing to the high ing. The wedge i `in the housing,

gsliipped witho t requiri resistance offered by the saine agains'tfbendplates" are securely retained so that the draft gear'c'an be to belsecurel eld ltoget er.,-' yarranging the wedgep ates and leaf springs' in such a manner` t faces are contact at all times, the/Wear of j the` draft'gear is greatly decreased,

bination'- of a housin and, relatively f; facing said p Asaid friction faces of the housing and being movable into said housing, the 'friction faces of the Wedge plates being longer than' the friction faces ofthe housing and extendin a considerable distance outwardly beyon the same said wed e plates and friction faces of the housing eing so arranged as to` cause the wedge plates to move toward each other when the@` gear is subjected to pres-V sure, and curved leaf lengthwise betiiveeny said springs arranged lates 1n oppositely vt cir concave sides disposed grou s` with ates and their endsbeari'ng on the opposite-ends of the Wedge plates to yand relatively fixed internal inwar ch is held against lf'iriii'ard i ment of said ing, andJ coperating in engagement by said lea at relatively Vlarge friction sur-iA oppose the movement-of the wedge"p1ates toward each other the convex face of one` set of springlaves being iii-ranged adja-v I a draft andbuiiing geafrjihe cambination of a housing having an o n end verging f friction faces at said open end, we ge plates slidable into said housin on said friction faces and having tlieirt ick en'ds extending out of said housing and beyond the friction faces thereofa distance substantially equal to the travel ofthe Wedge vplates whereby the area of thefriction faces in contact isV substantially the sume in `all positions of the wedge lates, said plates being 'moved toward eac other by said in` clined faces, leaf springsar'ranged length` wise-between said plates to oppose the movelates towardeach other, a' Aspring in said housing to,` oppose the move.- inent of said Ifriction plates into said housplates which are he d springs `to hold the plates against movement outv ofo y rative relation tothe housin the retaining parts of said wedgeplates gei the thin portions thereof and reinforcing the same. 1

3 In a draft and buiing gear, the combination of"a housing having an open end and internal inwardly converging friction faces at said Vopen end, wedge plates slidable into said housing on said friction faces andh'aving their thick ends extending out of said and on said housing housing and beyond the friction facesthere the artsthereof of, said plates being "moved toward 4each other by said incline faces, leaf springsarranged lengthwise'between said plates to oppose the movement of said plates toward each other, a spring in said housing' to oppose the movement' of said friction plates into said housing, and coperating shoulf` Y der'ed portions formed on said wedge lates gear, the coni-4 and on 'said housing adjacent to the friction faces thereof, whereby the plates are held against movin entirely out of said housing, the slioul ered portions of the wedge plates being "formed on the thin portions thereofV to reinforce the same.

4. In a draftand nation of a housing having internal oppo sitely arranged inclined friction faces,l wedge plates slidable into said housin on said friction faces and having their t 'ck ends extending out of said housing and ybegoud the friction faces thereof, said plates eing moved toward clined faces, leafsprings arranged between` said plates to oppose the movement of said plates toward each other, a Vspring in said ousing to oppose the 1y conv eacli other by said inl inovementfof-said fric# tion platesl into said housing',y saidwedge parts on the wed e ng formed `on bufiing gear, the combii i portions at the inner ends of the Wedge plates, and shoulders on said housing extcndinginto said recesses and adapted to co- 'operate with the shoulders on said wedge 5 plates to hold the plates against moving entirely out of said housin 5. Ina draft and buihng gear, the combination of a housing having internal oppoj sitely arranged inclined friction faces, Wedge plates slidable into said housing on said fric- 'f tion faces and having their thick ends exr"tending out of said housing and beyond the x friction faces thereof said plates being moved toward each other by said inclined faces, leaf' springs arranged between said "plates to oppose the movement of said plates toward each other, a spring in said housing `to oppose the movement of said -friction i plates into said housing, shouldered ortions on said wedge plates at the inner en s thereof, and parts on said housing at the inner edsof said friction faces 'cooperating with `the shouldered portions of thc Wedge plates to; vretain said plates in said houslng, said parts of thehousing having inclined faces I forming continuations of the friction faces of said housing.

6. In a draft and buinggear, the combination of an open ended housin having in- -wardly converging interna-l frletion faces `at itsopencnd, wedge'plates slidable into fsaidihousing on said friction faces and havf j ing Ltheir thick ends extending out ofthe u flio'using .beyond the friction faces thereof,

said Wedge plates being moved toward each other by, said converging friction faces when forced into the housing, leaf springs arrangedbetween said wedge plates to oppose the movement of said plates toward each other, and a releasing spring in the Vhousing for said wedge plates, said Wedge plates having strengthening ribs at their inner ends which extend into recesses in the housing.

7. In a draft and Ibuiling gear, the combination of an open ended housing having inwardly-converging internal friction faces at its open end, Wedge plates slidable into `said housing on said friction faces and having longitudinal strengthening ribs at the side edges of their inner ends between which the friction facesof the housing extend.

Witness my hand, this 24th day of March, 1915.

IVILLARD F. RICHARDS.

`,lVit'iiesses: l ALLEN B. BRIMMER,

y' E @RAM-HC. SMITH. 

